Problem solving is considered one of the most important mental processes in which human beings engage. Humans are problem solvers in essence because they live in a world that constantly challenges them by presenting dynamic and unpredictable situations. Most of real-world problems are conceptualized as ill-structured, because they are vaguely defined, possess unclear goals, and have multiple solutions. In the educational arena, students are not exposed to real-world problems and, therefore, they are not well prepared to solve daily-living situations that involve conflicting options (Jonassen, 2007). In the field of orientation and mobility for individuals who are blind, proponents of the Structured Discovery Cane Travel (SDCT) approach are aware of the central role that problem solving plays in facing real-life situations, and the enormous implications that this has in reaching full independence. This manuscript describes theoretical and empirical aspects of problem solving, and conceptualizes it as one of the main pillars of SDCT.

Keywords

Problem solving, structured discovery, cane travel, orientation and mobility